London markets closed on a positive note Thursday, with the Investing.com United Kingdom 100 adding 0.46% to register a fresh record high. Sector leadership came from Software & Computer Services, Support Services and Travel & Leisure, which collectively helped push the benchmark higher by the close.
The session saw several pronounced individual performances. The day’s top gainer on the Investing.com United Kingdom 100 was Howden Joinery Group Plc (LON:HWDN), which climbed 10.75% - an increase of 92.00 points - to finish at 948.00. London Stock Exchange Group PLC (LON:LSEG) recorded a 9.06% rise, up 706.00 points to close at 8,500.00, while Relx PLC (LON:REL) added 4.55%, gaining 110.00 points to end the session at 2,525.00.
Not all large-cap names enjoyed the rally. Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC (LON:HIK) was the weakest member of the index, sliding 16.89% or 279.00 points to close at 1,373.00. Miners also faced downward pressure: Fresnillo PLC (LON:FRES) dropped 5.13% (222.00 points) to finish at 4,104.00, and Antofagasta PLC (LON:ANTO) declined 4.38% or 195.00 points to 4,260.00.
Breadth on the London Stock Exchange favored advancers, with 1,027 stocks rising versus 742 in decline, and 542 remaining unchanged. Howden Joinery’s shares reached a 52-week high at the close, while Hikma’s shares fell to a 52-week low.
Commodities and currency markets recorded separate moves during the session. Gold futures for April delivery were down 0.37% or 19.44 to $5,206.76 a troy ounce. In energy markets, April crude oil rose 1.56% or 1.02 to $66.44 a barrel, and the May Brent contract increased 1.88% or 1.33 to trade at $72.02 a barrel.
On the foreign exchange front, GBP/USD was lower by 0.44% at 1.35, while EUR/GBP was reported unchanged 0.30% at 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.15% at 97.77.
The market’s close reflected a combination of sector-led strength and notable single-stock volatility. Investors and observers will likely continue to watch the large individual moves and cross-market price shifts in commodities and currencies when assessing near-term sentiment.
Market snapshot
- Index: Investing.com United Kingdom 100 up 0.46% to a new all-time high.
- Top gainers: Howden Joinery (LON:HWDN) +10.75% to 948.00; London Stock Exchange Group (LON:LSEG) +9.06% to 8,500.00; Relx (LON:REL) +4.55% to 2,525.00.
- Top losers: Hikma Pharmaceuticals (LON:HIK) -16.89% to 1,373.00; Fresnillo (LON:FRES) -5.13% to 4,104.00; Antofagasta (LON:ANTO) -4.38% to 4,260.00.